Supporting People and women's refuges

Abstract

Supporting People provides the opportunity to put refuge services on a firm financial footing. However, Supporting People only funds adult ‘housing‐related’ bed spaces. Children use refuge services, and the lack of funding for children's services is a big omission in the new Supporting People funding regime. This needs to be addressed both nationally and locally ‐ children have support needs too. Outreach services which provide a vital lifeline for women who do not access refuges are also absent from the funding strategy to tackle domestic violence. These services are desperately needed, and the challenge for Women's Aid and local authorities is to work together to ensure that all the needs of women and children escaping domestic violence can be properly met. The dislocation of capital and funding issues must be resolved quickly, so that much‐needed additional refuge spaces are developed and women who desperately need a safe place to stay free from violence can be accommodated.

Citation

Delahay, L. (2003), "Supporting People and women's refuges", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/14608790200300024